Dead Bodies Denied Dignity in Death, Humans Denied Dignity in Life

Dead Bodies: Bribery Ensnares Even the Deceased

Prema Sridevi: Today, we have with us Jitender Singh Shunty. Shunty is a Padma Shri Awardee, a former MLA, and a social activist. He is the founder of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal and is currently a member of the core group of human rights defenders as part of the National Human Rights Commission.

Jitender Singh Shunty has been interviewed by celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan for his incredible work, especially during COVID-19, where he stayed in crematoriums for days without going home to conduct the last rites for hundreds of people who died due to COVID.

Mr. Shunty, thank you for joining us today.

Jitender Singh Shunty: Thank you for inviting me. 

Prema Sridevi: Shunty ji, you might remember that during the peak of COVID-19, I interviewed you. I witnessed your work firsthand when you and your team conducted the last rites for hundreds of people for free. There were dead bodies all around you, and you even lost members of your team who were trying to help you during this process. Sadly, even today, there hasn't been a closure for those who lost their lives. We still don't have an accurate picture of how many people died. There are numerous allegations that the government has underreported the numbers. Have we learnt our lesson from the pandemic?

“We haven't learned our lessons from the pandemic”

Jitender Singh Shunty: We cremated around 4,266 dead bodies of people from various communities, including Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. The situation was heart-wrenching at that time. However, the sad reality is that the situation that existed four years ago remains unchanged today. The facilities that were lacking then are still lacking now.

We treated COVID-19 like a festival that came and went. Let’s not forget that there were people who sold medicines worth 2,000 rupees for 2 lakh rupees. Oxygen cylinders worth 500 rupees were sold for 10,000 rupees, and ambulances that usually cost 1,000 rupees were sold for 88,000 rupees. In hospitals like GTB Hospital and others, we handled 50 to 70 dead bodies daily. In those hospitals, there were 25 ventilators, but not a single person who could operate them. Sadly, even today, the condition remains the same.

Clearly, we haven’t learned our lessons from the pandemic. Big hospitals operated like industries, giving bills of about 40 lakh rupees to patients for a disease for which there was no medicine at that time. Sanitisers worth 20 rupees were sold for 200 rupees, and masks that cost 2 rupees were sold for 20 rupees. But today, the conditions have not improved. Where are those promised oxygen plants?

Prema Sridevi: We recently did a story where our team visited the Sector 94 Noida post-mortem house. We saw dead bodies lying on the ground, with blood everywhere. The bodies were found in a completely decomposed state. Why do such conditions still exist in our country, even after COVID-19?

Denying dignity in death

Jitender Singh Shunty: Whenever there are peak summers or winters, the crisis deepens. This time, during the peak summers in Delhi, there have been days when we have seen about 300 to 400 deaths. In our crematoriums, where we used to get 3 to 4 bodies, we saw 40 bodies. At Nigambodh Ghat, we have seen about 200 dead bodies daily. In places where post-mortems occur, instead of 3 to 4 dead bodies, they have seen about 40.

Our system does not have the facilities to even keep the bodies from decomposing. This is not just happening this year; it occurs every year during peak summers and winters. So, how is it that the government is still unprepared? We see rats and dogs in such post-mortem houses. Why are we denying dignity in death to our departed individuals? This is a human rights issue.

I raised this issue with the NHRC, stating that at the very least, dead bodies should be treated with dignity. I requested the Chairman of NHRC, and he released an order stating that if a death occurs anywhere in the country, the body should be released and should not be held back because of financial constraints. 

In a national capital like Delhi, if there are 10,000 hospitals, 9,900 hospitals don’t have a mortuary. They just ask you to take the dead body home. The situation is very dire. Where will people keep the bodies? If you can spend crores of rupees to build a hospital, can you not spend a little money to build a mortuary? The majority of hospitals don’t even have ambulance facilities. They ask the deceased's family to arrange an ambulance. Where would they go?

Prema Sridevi: Not just during COVID-19, but even today, the dignity of the dead is being violated. You are in touch with hospitals, mortuaries, crematoriums, burial sites, and other places. Can you tell us what the current condition is in relation to this?

Jitender Singh Shunty: I will tell you about a recent case where there was a fire in a hospital on May 25th in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar after five oxygen cylinders exploded, leading to the deaths of many babies. First of all, the question is: how did the Delhi government allow a hospital to be licensed in such a small area which was about 125 yards only, and that too on the first floor? There are no exits in that hospital, no ventilation, and no stairs. That is the first point.

The second point is that on the ground floor of the same hospital, the individual was running an oxygen cylinder business. How was this allowed? Around 12 babies got stuck, and we went inside the hospital to save them. Six babies died, then another two died, and we managed to rescue four babies. How are you allowing a hospital to function in 125 yards? That is the real question here. They had permission for only five beds but had set up 25 beds. The permission had also expired. This is a pathetic state. In Delhi, if you go around, you will find at least 4,000 hospitals like this.

Prema Sridevi: Coming back to the issue related to the Sector 94 post-mortem house in Noida, where we saw rotting bodies. The workers there have told the media that they hadn't seen this many bodies even during the COVID-19 pandemic. These could be heatwave-related deaths, as the summer this year was particularly harsh, especially on marginalised and homeless people.

But as in the case of Covid-19, once again, we are seeing that the government has been very dismissive regarding the gravity of the situation. Since you have personally handled hundreds of bodies and ensured they received dignified cremations or burials, tell us why India’s post-mortem houses are in such a pathetic condition. Why does this situation still exist today?

“We cremated 44 dead bodies in a single death during this summer”

Jitender Singh Shunty: Let me say this: for instance, if a death takes place in Shahdara, it is not guaranteed that the body will be cremated there. Due to a lack of facilities, people often have to take the body to another part of Delhi or even to Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Some people have even resorted to cremating bodies in fields or, during that period, throwing bodies into canals.

Another issue is that many people don't know what to do with bodies or how to obtain death certificates. I will explain why we are seeing more bodies in post-mortem houses these days compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-related deaths did not require post-mortems; a certificate stating that the death was due to COVID-19 was sufficient. However, in the case of heatwave-related deaths, post-mortems are mandatory.

We still receive calls on our Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal helpline regarding bodies. When we do, we immediately inform the local police. The police then take the dead body to the hospital, where a doctor certifies the death. The police then use our ambulance to store the body in a mortuary. They place advertisements in newspapers or inform through their wireless network that an unidentified body is there. They wait for 72 hours, perform the post-mortem, and then request us to conduct the last rites free of cost, which we do.

This is happening even now. During the heatwaves, we received a lot of calls. In one day, we cremated around 44 bodies. Where we used to cremate 4 bodies, now we are cremating 44 bodies a day. You can imagine the plight of the poor people. The sad part is that there is no water for homeless people to drink during the summer. You will be shocked to hear that many poor and homeless people died because they didn't have water to drink during the peak summer this year. These stories will never be reported.

Dogs feasting on dead bodies in UP

Prema Sridevi: A few days ago, we saw another news report about a post-mortem house in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, where dogs were eating human bodies. These reports are so shocking.

What we are seeing is a pattern of government apathy and neglect towards the dead. This situation is happening in 21st century India. We call ourselves a fast-developing economy, but what good is any development if we can't give dignity to the dead?

The budgets passed for healthcare—where are they going? 

Jitender Singh Shunty: It's not just the dead; even people who are alive and in hospitals are often seen lying on the floors alongside dogs. I have witnessed this in government hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I posted videos where dead bodies were lying around in hospitals with dogs, and the video went viral. The sad reality is that today, our departed ones have to rest with animals.

The real issue is that while our population has increased, our healthcare infrastructure has not kept pace. We are taking this very lightly. The budgets passed for healthcare—where are they going? This needs to be assessed and audited to ensure the funds are truly being spent on healthcare.

In 2020, there were riots in Northeast Delhi, and a journalist was shot in the chest. We took this journalist to GTB Hospital in Delhi, where we were told that the CT scan machine was not working, and they asked us to take the journalist somewhere else. We lost three crucial hours, and though he bled profusely, he survived due to his willpower.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the state of our healthcare system. If we don't learn our lessons from it, what more can be said?

Prema Sridevi: During the COVID-19 pandemic and even afterward, you visited many hospitals and post-mortem homes. You have spent several days inside crematoriums without going home. What flaws still exist in the system today? Why isn't the post-mortem process being conducted properly in the country? What changes are needed to improve this situation?

90% of Hospital Post-Mortems Not Conducted by Doctors

Jitender Singh Shunty: I am revealing a very shocking thing to you now, and I am telling this to you on record. In 90 percent of hospitals, the post-mortems are not conducted by doctors. You will be shocked to know that the doctors are often sitting in their rooms while the compounders or outside individuals perform the post-mortems. Only when a high-profile or influential person dies is the post-mortem usually done by the doctors, and even videography is conducted. In other cases, it is typically done by non-doctors. Poor and middle-class people do not even get the privilege of having a post-mortem done by a doctor. This is an open secret and the pathetic plight of our country.

It Isn't Just Human Beings Who Are Dying—Humanity Is Dying

I have always said that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn't just human beings who died—humanity died. There were 4,000 ashes of dead bodies lying in hospitals, and no one came to collect the ashes of their loved ones. People wanted their deceased father's house, their property, but not the ashes of their dead parent. That was the sorry state of affairs.

Prema Sridevi: You have revealed something very serious, stating that in the majority of hospitals, doctors don’t even perform post-mortems; instead, compounders or outsiders do it. You are saying that only the rich, influential, or powerful get the privilege of a post-mortem done by a doctor in the country today.

Also, when a death occurs, the system has to record it, and the post-mortem must be conducted appropriately. If bodies are rotting in post-mortem stations even before the actual post-mortem is conducted, this has significant implications for solving criminal cases. It impacts the entire criminal justice system.

As a member of the National Human Rights Commission, how grave is this situation? Clearly, accountability needs to be fixed. Whose responsibility is this?

“Family members sometimes bribe doctors to get the post-mortem done on time” 

Jitender Singh Shunty: It is the responsibility of the state government to handle this. When a death occurs, the post-mortem is the state government’s responsibility. For cremation, the responsibility lies with the municipal corporation in every state. For instance, the BMC in Mumbai… The BMC provides free cremation services in all crematoriums, including three quintals of free wood. This is because the NHRC had written to all the Chief Secretaries of the states, requesting them to provide free wood and CNG for cremations if a poor person cannot afford it.

It is crucial that post-mortems are conducted by doctors. If someone passes away, doctors sometimes say they can't do the post-mortem today and it can be done tomorrow. In such situations, I have personally witnessed family members bribing doctors to conduct the post-mortem immediately so that the last rites can be performed at the correct time. It's appalling that humanity has sunk to the level where people take bribes over dead bodies. Don't those who take bribes on dead bodies realise that one day they or their loved ones will also die?

It's true what they say, "what goes around comes around." I won't name anyone, but I'll share an incident. I called a doctor at a hospital and requested him to conduct a post-mortem for a body that had been waiting for a long time. The doctor replied, "Shunty ji, we have a lot of work. Let the dead body wait. We have a lot of work. Will we keep running behind one dead body?" 

But fate has a way of turning things around. Six days later, the same doctor's mother passed away in the same hospital. He called me and asked if I could send an ambulance. I asked him what had happened, and he said his mother had passed away. I responded, "Let the dead body wait till tomorrow." The doctor asked why I was speaking to him that way. I reminded him of his own words that he told me when I had called him about a poor man’s dead body. I asked, "So now the situation is such that we will start differentiating between dead bodies too?"

Urgent healthcare reforms needed

Prema Sridevi: At The Probe, we have been running a huge campaign against medical negligence. Many families who lost their loved ones due to medical negligence have been speaking with us. 

In these cases, it is very difficult for the victims or their family members to get justice. Our laws are designed in such a way that they are more hospital-centric and doctor-centric rather than patient-centric.

So, on one hand, we are seeing many deaths due to medical negligence, and on the other hand, we see that even the dead are not accorded any dignity. This shows that our healthcare infrastructure is completely collapsing and is in need of major reforms.

When such conditions exist in Delhi NCR, one can only imagine what the situation is like in the villages. What should the government do to bring about change in these circumstances?

Jitender Singh Shunty: Firstly, whether in a city, town, or village, corruption should be clamped down. The government should intervene. For instance, I was on an advisory board for a government hospital in East Delhi. We recommended that the hospital should have a blood donation van. The local MLA requested and got 20 lakhs from the Delhi government for the hospital. Sixteen years have passed since that incident, and we don’t know what happened to the money. The van never came either.

I always say that for something as simple as two polio drops, we had Amitabh Bachchan's campaigns, and we all know that polio has been eradicated. But what about blood donation? Delhi needs 5 lakh units of blood, but only 1.5 lakh units are donated. Where does the remaining 3.5 lakh units come from? It comes from voluntary donation, which can only thrive with proper awareness.

A couple of days ago, on World Blood Donor Day, I was given an award for donating blood 106 times. I pointed out that even on World Blood Donor Day, we didn't see any hoardings, newspaper ads, or TV ads. The government should intervene here as well. If someone donates blood, the government should reward them. For example, if someone donates 25 times, they should be appreciated and given a silver card or free metro tickets. If someone donates blood 50 times, they should receive free train tickets, and if they donate 100 times, they should get a flight ticket.

The government has the money, but they don’t seem to want to do anything about it. It is shameful that blood donors are given a mug worth 20 rupees. One unit of blood can sometimes save 3 to 4 lives. It is very clear that we need major reforms related to healthcare.

There are lakhs of thalassemic children who need blood transfusions 2 to 3 times every month. Wherever there is a thalassemia department, the children's parents should be made members. The parents can highlight the shortcomings of the system.

Similarly, for dialysis patients, they often have to beg for treatment, facing a three-month waiting period. This forces many to sell their property to afford private hospital care. Including the families of these patients as members in key departments would allow them to pinpoint where the system is failing. The government must offer such positions, and people will voluntarily work without any compensation.

Prema Sridevi: Shunty ji, I have seen the kind of work you have been doing for years. You are such an inspiration to so many people. Thank you for taking the time for this interview and for your deep insights. 

Jitender Singh Shunty: Thank you, Prema. Your channel has been raising these important issues consistently. You are not speaking against anyone or against the country; you are speaking against the system that needs immediate reforms. I am very sure your voice will reach those who can bring about change. I will also take it up with the NHRC.

Prema Sridevi: Thank you, Shunty ji.

Jitender Singh Shunty: Thank you.

Dive deeper with The Probe. For thoughtful analysis and in-depth stories directly to your phone, join our WhatsApp channel. Click and Connect with us Today: [WhatsApp Channel Link] 🔗

At The Probe, our commitment to social impact journalism is at the core of everything we do. Funded by well-meaning individuals from the public, our aim is to drive positive social change and make a real-world impact through the stories we report. 

If you wish to support us, please visit our Truth Brigade page and contribute to a cause that resonates with you the most. It is through your support that we have been able to keep the flame of our journalism alive in these difficult times. Click link to support us to make a difference: https://theprobe.in/truth-brigade